EP2606285A2

EP2606285A2 - Liquid supply system wherein liquid circulates via continuous inner tubes

Info

Publication number: EP2606285A2
Application number: EP11782534.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert Spiegel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-08-16
Filing date: 2011-08-16
Publication date: 2013-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-16
Also published as: US9032995B2; DE112011104210A5; US20130167956A1; WO2012025095A3; WO2012025095A2; EP2606285B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid supply system wherein liquid, such as for example, a supply of warm water, circulates. Said system consists of thick outer tubes, the inner chamber of said thick outer tubes allowing a liquid to flow through, a thin inner tube is respectively placed inside the outer tube in which the liquid can flow in the direction counter to that in the inner chamber. In the path of at least one outer tube, a first tube branch is introduced enabling the first inner tube to be withdrawn, and in said first branch, at least one functional component, such as a shut-off valve, is introduced into the inner tube and guided to a second tube branch in the path of an outer tube and extends further through said tube branch and then into the inner chamber of the latter outer tube.

Description

Liquid supply with circulation via continuous inner tubes

The invention relates to a liquid supply having a circulation, such as e.g. a hot water supply, consisting of thick outer tubes, in whose interior a liquid can flow and in each case a thin inner tube is laid, in which the liquid can flow in the opposite direction as in the interior.

For hot water supplies in buildings and the lines of tempered liquids in chemical production plants and other systems in which a relatively large distance between the source of tempered liquid and its consumption is to overcome, it is known, not just a single line from the source to the place of consumption to lay, but two parallel lines, which are summarized in the vicinity of the source and in the vicinity of the consumption again to a common line. In these two parallel lines, a pump or the different specific gravity of the different tempered liquids in the two strands of lines for a "circulation" of the water, thus providing a continuous circuit in which the liquid in one line and in parallel leading line back again.

In contrast to a single line, in which the liquid is and begins to move only at the beginning of the removal, is thus in the vicinity of the sampling always an already desired tempered amount of liquid ready. In the application example of a domestic water supply with circulation, e.g. ensures that there are no longer pipe sections with standing water

CONFIRMATION COPY There is, which is only slightly warmed and thus for unwelcome bacteria, such as Legionella highly positive living conditions are created, so that the numerous grown small microorganisms, the water can be contaminated at the start of removal from a tap.

Since the current state of microbiology new bacteria strains are observed, which are much more resistant or even resistant to the usual antibiotics, a uniform heating of the water kept ready is of increasing importance.

With increasing energy costs, it should be avoided to let "half-warm" water flow unused back into the sewage system, because the thermal energy stored in it is lost, whereas a circulation helps.

Another major reason for circulation is a growing shortage of drinking water around the world, which is why the waste of insufficiently heated water is becoming more and more expensive.

Since two parallel lines with their additional space and insulation requirements and components for the second line are relatively expensive, it is known in the current state of the art, the two parallel tubes to lead coaxially.

Thus, DE 39 26 202 A1 describes an outer tube of relatively large diameter, in whose interior an inner tube of comparatively small diameter is guided coaxially. Illustrated are elbows and T-shaped branches and in the form of a Y, which each contain push-in sleeves for an outer tube and an inner tube. This achieves a consistently constant distance between outer tube and inner tube.

However, a disadvantage is the enormously high cost of these connectors. Since the inner connecting sleeves can not be inserted as a separate component in the outer coupling sleeves, either a two-shell design of the outer coupling sleeve is required or a highly complex mold. It remains questionable whether then still at least a satisfactory sealing effect can be achieved.

DE 198 49 362 C2 presents for the hot water supply especially of buildings coaxially guided pipes and specially adapted for this system elbows and T-shaped branches. It is also explained in detail how a valve with a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the inner tube looks like.

Since a fitting, such as a valve, for an inner tube must be accessible from the outside, to be moved from there with a handwheel, with a rotating motor or with another drive, the fitting must have a piece of pipe which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the outer tube therethrough extends into the inner tube and is connected there to the inner tube. Through this cross tube through the shaft extends to operate the valve in the inner tube.

Already this brief description illustrates very well that such fittings must be specially adapted to the particular pipe system special parts and therefore require a lot of design effort. In addition to the disadvantage of this complicated Construction, they must also shoulder the economic disadvantage of relatively small quantities, so that the system is further increased by this "scaling effect".

Because of the large structural and logistical effort for the production, provision and installation of double-shell branches and the cost of the integration of valves and other functional assemblies, such systems have not prevailed on the current state of the art on a broad front.

Rather, in practice running water pipes for circulation are essentially limited to straight pipe sections. At branches or fittings is then changed from coaxial tubes to parallel tubes or dispensed with a circulation. Therefore, the advantages of coaxial tubes in terms of lower installation costs and lower cost of insulation and reduced space requirements during installation are limited so far only to a very small extent.

The systems mentioned here with consistent double-walled pipe routing even in angles, branches and fittings are so expensive due to the high cost of these special parts that they negate the principal advantage of the "pipe in the pipe" again.

Against this background, the invention has set itself the task to build even larger systems for the supply of tempered liquids so that the two tubes of the circulation are performed on most of the pipe sections, but still no costs for angles, branches and fittings. special, but widely used standard components are usable.

As a solution, the invention teaches that in the course of an outer tube at least a first branch pipe is inserted, through which the inner tube is guided outwards and there in the inner tube at least one functional assembly such. a shut-off valve is inserted and the inner tube is guided to a second branch pipe in the course of the outer tube and passes through this branch pipe and then further in the interior of the outer tube.

It is therefore a central idea of the invention to dispense with "critical" points of the pipe guide, ie branches, manifolds and valves, to allow the two pipes to extend coaxially so that any standardized components can be used in these areas In contrast to the prior art, however, the inner tubes are immediately returned to the outer tube by a further branching of the tube immediately after these points. As a result, previously required, expensive special parts are avoided and einschaligen the additional effort in these areas

Pipes reduced to a single special part, namely the pipe branch.

Another advantage achieved with this is that assembly also requires only moderate special expenditures and no stipulations on specific types of connections. Instead of screw connections, it is also possible to use plug connections, welded connections or connections produced by bending in sections, such as so-called "press fittings." Adhesive and welded connections are also possible a working space around the connection zone is required, so it can be created comparatively easy.

The insulators to be applied to these tubes and these connections are known and proven in numerous variants as standard components.

A very decisive advantage of the idea according to the invention is that any functional assemblies, such as e.g. Balancing valves for reducing the operating pressure in risers and secondary pipes can be integrated into the system without significant additional problems. In this way, even complex, automatically controlled valves and the required pressure sensors and / or temperature sensors can be integrated.

For the production of a T-connection, it is sufficient in the system according to the invention if in each case a pipe branch is inserted into all three outer pipes leading to the connection point. Through these pipe branches, the inner pipes of each branch can be led outwards "ahead" of the branch and connected to one another outside the outer pipes with a conventional, well-known T-piece In this way, it is also possible to create line crossings or complex line distributions with known standard components relatively quickly and easily.

Another advantage of the inventive concept is that the retrofitting of existing systems with a circulation at relatively limited cost is possible. That's it only necessary to cut open the pipe section to be provided with a circulation at the beginning and at the end and to use a pipe branch there. Through the first branch pipe through an inner tube is then inserted, pushed through the pipe and out again at the second branch pipe to the outside. As a result, the formerly single-shell pipe becomes the outer pipe of a double-shell pipe system.

When functional assemblies are inserted into an outer tube, they are recessed from the inner tube path in the same manner as a "bypass." The inner tube thus runs along the outside of these functional assemblies.

Thanks to the separation of the inner tube and the outer tube in the area of the functional assemblies, it is possible to use all the functional assemblies which are known or will be introduced in the future, such as, for example, Branches, crossings, exhaust valves, adapters, manifolds, valves, barriers, counters, pumps, accumulators and / or temperature sensors. Also, sight glasses, filters or small material stores, e.g. Ion exchangers can be installed in this way in a liquid supply according to the invention.

In a variant that is advantageous for laying, in at least one branch of the pipe, the longitudinal axis of the branching pipe socket has an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the continuous outer pipe. In contrast to a rectangular branching pipe socket, the advantage of this orientation is that the radius of curvature of the inner tube is considerably larger on its way from the interior of the outer tube and through the wall of the outer tube to the outside and thus no strong even at high flow velocity of the liquid Whirl in the Form the area of curvature, which benefits the life of the inner tube.

This "oblique" orientation of the pipe socket is also advantageous in the assembly of the inner tube, if the inner tube is made of a material that is flexible at least during installation.Then, the inner tube can be unwound as by the meter of a large reel and inserted into the pipe socket As soon as it impinges on the wall opposite the pipe socket, the acute angle of the pipe socket relative to the longitudinal axis of the outer pipe clearly dictates the direction in which the inner pipe continues to move, and then slides along the wall Front area of the inner tube and penetrates into the outer tube.

This curvature is regressed with continued feeding. A spring-elastic inner tube - e.g. made of a plastic - automatically returns to a straight shape. A purely elastic, but hardly resilient material, such as a copper tube, is directed by contact with the inner walls of the outer tube again in an approximately straight shape.

In this way, the inner tube can be continuously pushed through the outer tube until it reaches the next branch pipe and is then brought out through the pipe socket.

In the next step, the two ends of the inserted inner tube must be sealingly connected to the two pipe sockets. For example, a ring can be used for this space is pushed between the inner tube and the inner wall of the pipe socket. If this ring is conical in cross-section, it can be pressed by a union nut on the pipe socket in the space between the inner tube and inner wall of the pipe socket and so a seal against the

Effect liquid. Of course, other methods for sealing a pipe end in a flange are applicable to connect the inner tube with the pipe socket.

As already mentioned, it is a decisive advantage of the liquid supply system according to the invention that the vast majority of its tube length can be carried out with tubes guided into one another. For example, when supplying a building with warm water so both the vertical risers, and the horizontal by-passes can be equipped so. And the main line, which supplies the individual risers, can also be provided with an inner tube.

It is an interesting variant that close to the junction of the outer tube of a riser from the outer tube of a main line or close to the branches of the outer tube of a secondary line from the outer tube of a riser, the respective inner tubes are guided through pipe sockets to the outside and via a branch for the inner tubes and a balancing valve are connected to each other for pressure control. As a result, meaningful water pressures can be regulated in all sections of the liquid supply.

As mentioned above, it is a decisive advantage that the valves can be selected without taking into account special requirements of the piping system, so that every Final system can be inserted. If the existing connection on the pipe branch of the pipe branch does not match the connection of the valve - or another function module to be used there - suitable adapters can be inserted at a manageable expense.

By virtue of this flexibility of the system according to the invention it is e.g. It is possible to use exhaust valves for draining the outer pipes and / or the inner pipes at the appropriate places.

Another decisive advantage is that the same functional assemblies can be used for both the inner tubes and the outer tubes. As mentioned, any function module can also be used in the course of an outer tube. In this case, the inner tube is passed in a "bypass" on the function module, ie before and behind the function assembly is ever a branch pipe inserted through which the inner tube is led out, bolted to the outside of the next section of the inner tube and from there back in the interior of the next section is returned from the outer tube.

In the following, further details and features of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an example. However, this is not intended to limit the invention, but only to explain. It shows in a schematic representation:

Figure 1 section through a branch with two valves

2 shows a section through a supply with main line,

Riser and secondary line 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a T-shaped branch, which is equipped with a shut-off valve 6 in the course of the outer tube 3 of the branching riser B and with a balancing valve 7 in the course of the associated, branching inner tube 2.

The drawing is focused primarily on the relationships between the interiors 31 of the outer tubes 3 and the course of the inner tubes 2. Therefore, in Figure 1, the connections between the pipe branches 1 and the subsequent outer tubes 3 and the connections between the pipe socket 1 1 and the adjoining function modules, such as, B, a manifold 5, not shown. FIG. 1, as well as FIG. 2, are limited to the fact that the boundaries between the components only characterize a different hatching of the cross-section of the wall regions of the pipe branches 1 and of the outer pipes 3 and of the functional assemblies. The section through the inner tubes 2 is greatly simplified. The

Cut surfaces of the walls of the inner tubes 2 are shown only by a relatively wide black line. The fittings or other connections formed the ends of the inner tubes 2 in the pipe socket 1 1 are indicated only schematically by black rectangles. Similarly, the representation of the valves 6 and 7 for the sake of clarity instead of a realistic basic cross-section is reduced to the usual only for plans usual symbol with two crossed lines. In order to understand the spatial relationships more easily, the cross-sections of the tubes and all functional assemblies are relatively large.

Through these simplifications, the task of a T-connection is easily understood in FIG.

At the lower edge of Figure 1, a horizontally continuous main line A can be seen. In this main line A, a T-piece is installed as a branch for the riser B and inserted into the riser B, the shut-off valve 6 on the left side.

1 shows how, according to the invention, the inner tube 2 of a circulation line is guided "past." The uniform course of the circulation line, consisting of inner tubes 2, is interrupted in order to divert an inner tube 2 for the riser line B from it.

For the purpose, two pieces of pipe branches 1 are inserted into the outer tubes 3 of the main line A. Since the respective pipe socket 1 1 of the two branches of the pipe 1 are aligned at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the pipe branch 1, the two pipe branches 1 are inserted in opposite directions and spaced from each other in the outer tubes 3 of the main line A.

The two pipe sockets 1 1 of the pipe branches 1 are connected to a manifold 5, which in the embodiment shown here is a T-piece, from which a pipe piece branches off at the top. For this distributor 5, as well as for all other elements, the concrete connections to the adjacent pipes or functional assemblies are not shown in FIG. It becomes clear, however, that the Liquid flows from the left inner tube 2 into the inner space of the distributor 5 and there distributes itself to the further upstream tube piece and to the right inner tube 2. From the upwardly running pipe section, the liquid flows through an open balancing valve 7 and through a further, single-shell pipe to a third pipe branch 1. There it enters a third copy of an inner tube 2, which is vertically upward in the further course of Rising B extends.

In Figure 1 is not shown how the pipes and other assemblies are provided with a thermal insulation, because the known prior art. In FIG. 2, the branch shown in FIG. 1 is contained twice by the main line A, namely at the bottom right and in the middle at the bottom. This explains how to connect in a horizontal main line A, which is provided with a continuous inner tube 2, upwardly branched risers B and in the respective outer tube 3 per a shut-off valve 6 and in the respective inner tube 2 a balancing valve 7 is inserted.

These two branches are complemented by further characteristic examples of a simple hot water supply system of a multi-level building. From the right riser B branches off to the right above a secondary line C. In Figure 2 it can be seen very clearly that this branch are constructed according to the same scheme as the branches of the risers B from the main line A, ie the inner tubes 2 are guided past and out on the T-shaped branch of the outer tubes 3 and there branched in a separate distributor 5. Good to see as from the manifold 5, the inner tube for the secondary line C is passed through the pipe socket 1 1 of another branch pipe 1 in the interior 31 of the outer tubes 3 of the secondary line C.

In Figure 2, a counter 8 are inserted into the outer tube 3 and in the course of the inner tube 2 at the branch of the secondary line C from the riser B. These two counters are symbolized by a circle inside the tube. The difference between the amounts of water that have passed through these two counters, then gives the actual amount of water consumed by the secondary line C from.

In Figure 2 is not shown how to the secondary line C and the bottom right end of the main line A liquid consumers, such as sinks, bathtubs, toilets, dishwashers and others are connected.

Good to see in Figure 2, the feeding of the tempered liquid in the liquid supply according to the invention. Bottom left, the memory 10 is shown, in which the - not shown here - liquid is tempered. To the memory 10 a doppelscha- liger pipeline is connected. In this embodiment, the inner tube 2 is guided to the depth of the memory 10, where it always has contact with the liquid.

On the left in FIG. 2, to insert a pump 9 at the beginning of the main line A, the inner tube 2 is guided outward via two branch pipes 1 and via its two pipe sockets 1 1 and - not shown in FIG. 2 - the adapter 4 is connected to a pump 9. In Figure 2 can be very well understood how the pump 9 sucks on the leftmost inner tube 2 liquid from the memory 10 and feeds it via a further inner tube 2 in the liquid supply.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

I pipe branch

I I pipe socket in the pipe branch 1

2 inner tube, extends in the interior 31 and by a

Tube branch 1 out or in

3 outer tube, enclosing an inner tube. 2

31 Interior of the outer tube 3

4 adapters on the branch pipe 1

5 distributors on the branch pipe 1

6 shut-off valve in the course of a pipe 2,3

7 balancing valve in the course of a pipe 2,3

8 counters in the course of a pipe 2,3

9 pump in the course of a pipe 2,3

10 memory

A main line, consisting of outer tubes 3 u. Inner tubes 2

B riser, branching v. Main A, primarily vertical

C secondary line, branching off v. riser

Claims

Expectations

Liquid supply with a circulation, such as a hot water supply, consisting of thick outer pipes (3), in the interior (31)

- a liquid can flow and

- a thin inner tube (2) is laid in each case, in which the liquid can flow in the opposite direction to that in the interior (31),

characterized in that

- A first pipe branch (1) is inserted into the course of at least one outer pipe (3), through which the inner pipe (2) is guided to the outside and

- At least one functional assembly such as a shut-off valve (6) is inserted into the inner tube (2) and

- the inner tube (2) is guided to a second pipe branch (1) in the course of an outer tube (3) and

- runs through this pipe branch (1) and then in the interior (31) of the last-mentioned outer pipe (3).

Liquid supply according to claim 1, characterized in that an inner tube (2)

- can be guided out of the interior (31) through a pipe branch (1) in a first outer pipe (3) and

- Can be guided into the interior (31) of a second outer tube (3) through a further pipe branch (1). Liquid supply according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- a first outer pipe (3) can be subsequently separated at any mechanically accessible point and closed again by inserting a first pipe branch (1) and

- a second outer pipe (3) can also be subsequently separated at any mechanically accessible point and closed again by inserting a first pipe branch (1) and

- An inner pipe through the two pipe branches (1).

(2) out of the interior (31) of the first outer tube (3) and into the interior of the second outer tube

(3) can be guided back in.

4. Liquid supply according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in an area of an outer tube (3),

- which lies between two pipe branches (1) and

- which is free of an inner tube (2),

a functional module is inserted.

Liquid supply according to claim (4), characterized in that functional assemblies with the same connecting pieces can either be inserted into the outer tube (3) or can be connected to an inner tube (2). Liquid supply according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional assembly

- a pipe coupling and/or

- a branch and/or

- an intersection and/or

- an exhaust valve and/or

- an adapter (4) and/or

- a distributor

(5) and/or

- a shut-off valve

(6) and/or

- a barrier

(7) and/or

- a counter (8) and/or

- a pump (9) and/or

- a memory (10) and/or

- a temperature sensor

is.

Liquid supply according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of at least one pipe branch (1), the longitudinal axis of the branching pipe socket (1 1) occupies an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the continuous outer pipe (3).

8. Liquid supply according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner tube (2) is flexible at least during laying and by forces that are applied outside the outer tube (3) approximately in the longitudinal direction on the inner tube (2), this is oriented at an acute angle Pipe socket (1 1) into the interior (31) of an outer pipe (3) and can be pushed further therein.

9. Liquid supply according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains strands with different directions, which can run, for example, as a riser (B) in a vertical direction or as a secondary line (C) in a horizontal direction.

10, liquid supply according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that close to the branches of the outer pipe (3) of a riser (B) from the outer pipe (3) of a main line (A) or close to the branches of the outer pipe

(3) a secondary line (C) from the outer pipe (3) of a riser pipe (B) the respective inner pipes (2) are led to the outside through pipe sockets (11) and via a branch for the inner pipes (2) and a balancing valve (7) are connected to each other for pressure control.

1 1. Liquid supply according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that outlet valves for emptying the outer pipes (3) and / or the inner pipes (2) are installed.